The highly anticipated meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin ended Friday without any agreement to halt or resolve Moscow’s war in Ukraine, despite both leaders describing their talks as “productive.”
Following nearly three hours of discussions, Trump and Putin appeared briefly before the media, offering no details on progress and taking no questions. “We’ve made some headway,” Trump said, standing before a backdrop reading “Pursuing Peace.” He added: “There’s no deal until there’s a deal.”
Ukraine Reacts
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who spoke with Trump after the summit, said Ukraine was ready for “constructive cooperation” and announced plans to travel to Washington on Monday.
Putin, however, gave no indication of softening Russia’s stance, insisting that the “root causes” of the conflict and Moscow’s “legitimate concerns” must be addressed. He said he agreed with Trump on the need to ensure Ukraine’s security but urged Kyiv and European capitals to respond “constructively.”
Land Swaps and Security Guarantees
Speaking later to Fox News, Trump suggested discussions had touched on land swaps and security guarantees for Ukraine, saying these were points “largely agreed on” with Putin. “I think we’re pretty close to a deal,” he added, while acknowledging Ukraine’s right to reject it.
His remarks fueled concerns in Kyiv and across Europe that Washington and Moscow could attempt to impose terms on Ukraine. Those fears did not materialize, but analysts noted Putin gained diplomatically by securing a face-to-face meeting with the U.S. president after years of Western isolation. Cold War historian Sergey Radchenko said Putin “basically won this round because he got something for nothing.”
NATO and Western Response
Following the summit, Trump held calls with NATO leaders and with Zelenskiy. European officials voiced skepticism about Moscow’s intentions. Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide urged stronger pressure on Russia, while Czech Defence Minister Jana Cernochova warned that Putin remained focused on undermining Western unity rather than ending the war.
Fighting Continues
On the battlefield, Russia launched 85 attack drones and a ballistic missile against Ukraine overnight, with Ukraine’s Air Force reporting 61 drones shot down. Ukraine’s military said 139 clashes took place on the front line in the past 24 hours. Russia claimed its defenses intercepted 29 Ukrainian drones.
Trade and Sanctions
Trump indicated he would delay imposing tariffs on Chinese imports of Russian oil after making “progress” with Putin. He has also threatened further sanctions on Moscow but has yet to act, despite Putin ignoring a Trump-imposed ceasefire deadline earlier this month.
Symbolic Victory for Putin
The summit ended in anticlimax compared to its ceremonial start. Putin arrived in Alaska to a red carpet welcome from Trump, despite facing an International Criminal Court arrest warrant over alleged war crimes in Ukraine—a charge Moscow rejects.
Closing the meeting, Trump thanked Putin, who responded in English: “Next time in Moscow.” Trump smiled, acknowledging he “might get a little heat on that one,” but left open the possibility of a future visit.
Zelenskiy, meanwhile, stressed that Russia must take “necessary steps” to end the war and reiterated Ukraine’s reliance on U.S. support: “It’s time to end the war, and we are counting on America.”
Source: Web Desk
PUJ welcomes formation of Commission for Protection of Journalists
LAHORE (RNN TV) — The Punjab Union of Journalists (PUJ) on Saturday expressed satisf…
CSS Exam 2026: Age Limit Relaxed, Essay Paper Gets New Focus
The Senate Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation has asked the Federal Public Service Commission …
